Mangle or ironing machine



sept. 15, 192s.

F. W. VODOZ MANGLE 0R IRONING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1920v 3Sheets-Sham'l 1 wel l lzumtor Z" 3. wie a' sept. 15, 1925, 1,553,579

Y F. W. VODOZ MANGLE OR IRONING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1920 3Sheetg-.Sheet 2 Y* Iwemfof Ifema/C Za. www,

Sept. 15, 1925.

F. -W. VODOZ' MANGLE on IRONING MACHINE 3 Sheets-'Sheet 5 Filed Sept.25, 1920 Patented Sept. 15, 1925, l

"-'PATENTQol-Flca FREDERICK W. VODOZ, O'F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MANGLE on IRONING MACHINE.

Appneation filed september 25, 1920. serial mi. 412,825.

To all whom it may cmtcem:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. Vonoz,

a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county ofCook and State of 6 Illinois, have invented a Mangle or Ironing iication.

This invention relates to improvements in mangles, or ironing machines,and has for 10 its principal object to provide an improved constructionof machines of the class described. Other objects and features of myinvention will appear-as the description proceeds.

The invention-consists in the construction, combination, and arrangementof parts, as are described in the following specification, in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, and more specifically pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side` view of a machine embodying myinvention, with the heating element in one position.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the machine, with the heating element in thepositionV shown in Fig. 1.

Fg. 3 is a side view, with the heating element ina second position.

In 'the embodiment of my invention illustrated herewith, a frame A,comprises side supporting members 10, 10, a pair of longitudinallydisposedcross members 11,11, spaced apart andadjacent the top ofsaidside members, and other suitably disposed cross members 12. The crossmembers 11, 11, and 12, preferably comprise tubular bars or rods, mountd in suitable brackets 11b, 11"

Machine, of whichthe following is a speciattached to si e supports 10,10. The frame' v. is mounted on casters l13, 13, each having a 40mounted on the frame, and provided with a 'ball bearing 13 interposedbetween the upl perend of said shank and a cap screw 13, threaded in theupper end of said sleeve and adapted to be readily adjusted so as toregulate the height of the caster when the machine is used on uneven oorsurfaces.

An ironing roller 14` is mounted'fabove and longitudinally of the frameA, and is supported at one end by a bearing bracket 15, and at the otherend by a worm gear housing 16, the two last mentioned members both beingmounted on the cross members 11, 11a, .by means of sleeves 17,17, and18, 18, al'-v shank 13 mounted to turn in a sleeve 13by ranged to bemovably adjusted therealong, in order to provide easy assembly anddisassembly of the roller,and to permit the use of rollers of varyinglengths, as desired.

The bearing vbracket 15 is preferably provided with a hollow end.portion 15, suitable for containing grease or other lubricant,

packing gland 15, suitably secured to the for the roller shaft 15d. rlhebearing con-v and having annular ball bearings 15b of any approvedpattern, retained in place by a.

struction for the opposite end ofthe roller i' 'is similarly designed,and comprises roller bearing 16, and packing gland 16b mounted on thehousing 16, aboutthe shaft 16. A

worm gear 16d is also carried on the said shaft 16c within the saidhousing, the latter .being split on a horizontal plane, as shown in Fig.1, to afford access to the mechanism therein. Y

A work table20 is provided on the front, or advance side of the machine,and comprises a horizontal board 21, having its inner margin adjacentthe roller 14,l and supported by forked brackets 22, 22, which restonthe front cross bar 11, .and hinged links 23, 23,

which connect the outer marginof the table to the frame. Thisarrangement allows the table to be folded downwardly, for compact- .nessin shipping, When desired.

A folding hopper 24 is also hin ed to the, front of the frame, andsupporte b ylinks 25, 25, attachedto links'23, 23. The lopper is adaptedfor holding the Awork beforeit `is placed in the man le. l

A receiving tab e 26 is provided at the sol rear of the machine, and maybe constructed l similarly to the front table 20, excepting that it ispreferably arranged somewhat lower, as shown. In addition, the receivingtable is arranged so that it may be swung. to a second` position, shownin dotted lines in Fig. 1, in which the vsupportin 27,27, are swungvabouty the pivots 2 a,'27,

, and theforked brackets 28, 28,"engage with 'a crossmember 28, toholdAthe table in substantially horizontalA position, as shown. The purposeof this arrangement is to allow a larger drop for pieces Oflarge dimenisions as they are passed thru the machine, thereby facilitating theironing and foldin ofpieces such as sheets and the like. f

plurality of fingers29, 29 are arranged links AEnd-plates 34 and 35 are,above the roller 14, and having a curved heating-plate 31, or hot plateconforming substantially with the shape of the roller.

The element may be heated by any suityable means, such as gas, orelectricity, but'y in the embodiment illustrated, I have shownl agas-heated device, comprising a hood 32, and a as burner 33 of anapproved pattern, extending the length of the hot plate 31. provided atthe respective ends of the heating element, onA

which the burner 33 is supported. A pair 'of laterally extendingbrackets 34a and 35 are connected with the end platesv 34 and 35,

respectively, and connect with'vertically disposed supporting arms 36and 37 respectively. The heating element is preferablyA mounted on saidarms by means of resilient i connections 38, 38, each comprising acasting` 38a attached -to the upper end of said arms, and having avertically dispesedrpin 38b extending through each of the brackets 34and 351- and connected thereto by a spring 40 mounted on thev upper endof said pin 38b and connected with an adjustable 4win nut 39, toregulate the tension of the y heatlng elementupon the roller.

The gas burner 33 is fed by a suitable pipe l41, preferably supported bythe adjacent casting 38a and having a valve 42 of any suitable type,adapted to-be controlled by a lever 43, as will be more fully described.The lower ends 44, 44 of the v'suppt'nting arms 36, 37, are connectedtogether by a cross member 45. A pair of suitable lugs 46, 46, arecarried by said arms and move in vertically disposed'guides 47 47,attachedk to the s1de members 10, 10, as shown. A pair of rocking links48, 48 are also connected to said arms, and pivoted to the frame,preferably on the rear cross-bar 11" thereof. The arrangement is suchthat the heatino element 30, supporting arms 36 and 37, an cross-bar 45arelmovable as a unit, which movement is controlled by the links 48, 48,and guides 47, 47, so as to displace the heating element 30 rearwardlywith respect to the roller 14 as it is raised therefrom, in the position`shown .in Fig. 3. The purpose of this arrangement is to provide anunobstructed u per surface of the roller so that work may be placedthereon in posi- .tion for beginning the ironing operation.

Themechanism for actuating thew heatin element and lassociated partsjust describecomprises a foot-lever or treadle 49, pivoted on thecross-bar 45, and having an upwardly y 4toggle device, which in theconstructionk illustrated is the bar 11, as above described. The toggledevice is also provided with a suitable stop, as for instance an odsetportion 53 of the toggle joint 53a, which limits the relative movementof the levers to form a` locked relationv thereof, when they are movedslightly beyond alignment with each other, and the heating element is inengagement with the roller, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The toggleis unlocked, or 5 broken by means Vof a second arm 51a preferablymadeintegral with the lever 50, and extending forwardly from the machine in.position to Vbe manipulated by the operator.

Mechanism for actuating the roller 14 comprises a worm (not shown)meshed with thev worm gear 16d in the gear housing 16,

vas already described, and driven by a suitable electric motor 54mounted on the frame.

Electrical connections Vfor the motor comprise a socket plug 55,including .a switch of the usual type operated by a pull cord 56.

Said pull cord is attached to a rocking armv 57 4pivotally connected tothe frame, and adapted to be actuated by a cam 58 mounted on the arm 37By means of the arrangement just described, the motor is automaticallystarted by opening the supply circuit to the driving motor when theheating element is brought into contact with-the roller, and immediatelystopped again as the heating element is withdrawn.' The switch 55 mayalso be independently actuated by the operator, by vmeans of the controlrod 55a, attached to the arm 57.

Anr automatic control for the heating device comprises the valve 42 forcontrolling the gas supply to the hot plate, and a con-i into o eratingposition on the roller, and

diminished when the heating element is raised. A preferred device forcontrolling the said valve comprises a V-shaped slot in the lever 43,which will allow the valve 42 to be manually opened when the heatingelement 30-is inrthe raised position shown in Fig. 3, and itis desiredto heat the hot plate l 3l-preparatory to use, but which willautomaticallycontrol the valve so as to open it when the hot plate r`isbrought into contact with the roller, and close it when the hot plate israised. l

The use and operation of my invention is as follows:

The heating element is normally held in its raised position by thevtension device 52, as illustrated in Fig. 3, in which it is 20 thetreadle downwardly to lower the heating element -into position shown inFig. 1, in which case the valve 42 will automatically be opened, asshown. When the hot plate has been heated to the desired degree, themechanism is then moved to the position shown in Fig. 3, and the machineis now ready for-operation. The work is placed along the roller 14, andthe treadle 49 is depressed by the operator, bringing the hot plate intocontact with the work and simultaneously starting rotation of the rollerby turning on the current to the driving motor 54 at switch plug 55 bymeans of the cam device 57 before described'. The roller thus starts torevolve, and the work is carried under the hot plate and deposited onthe receiving table 26. It will be noted, that the toggle levers 49*land 51 become locked when the heating element is brought into contactwith the roller, so that after the treadle 49 is once depressed, thepressure may be removed therefrom, and the ironing operation maycontinue until it is again desired to lift the heating element. This isaccomplished by depressing the lever 51,

which unlocks, or breaks the toggle, and allowsthe heatingelement to beraised by the spring 52.. As the heating element is raised, the drivingmotor and roller are stopped by action of the cam 58 and switch 55, andsimilarly, the gas supply is di'- minished by movement of the lever 43,which partially closes the valve 42 to such a degree that the hot platewill not be heated to a dangerous degree. iii case the machine is notused for a relatively short time, yet will be sufiiciently lheated forsubsequent use, as desired.

In the event that relatively large pieces,

such as sheets lor the like, are to` be ironed,

the receiving table may be moved to a lower position, so as tofacilitate the handling vof such work, as already suggested.'

Among novel features of construction not already pointed out, .is themeans whereby the power is applied approximately at the center ofthe'cross-rod 45 'associated with the heating lelement 30. Thisconstructionaffords an equalization of pressure ofl the heating elementon vwork of uneven thicknesses when applied to opposite ends 'oftheroller.

It ,will be understood that I have shown and described simply one formof my invention, and in doing so, have set forth certain parts andrelations thereof, but I wish it to be understood that I do not therebydesire to limit myself to these particular forms nor to this particularembodiment of my invention, excepting as specifically limited in thefollowing claims:

I claim:

1. In an ironing machine, -the combinat-ion of a frame, a roller mountedthereon, a

coacting shoe, a movablesupport for said shoe, means on said frame forcontrolling the movement of said support in a veiticall plane comprisinga pivoted link and a vertically disposed guide, and means for actuatingsaid support.

2. In an ironing machine, the combination of a frame, a roller mountedon said frame, a shoe coacting with said roller, supporting armsconnected withl sald shoe, a member .connecting said supports together,and

means for controlling the movement of said supporting members,comprising guides fixed to said frame and links pivotally connectingsaid arms to said frame, and a foot operated nemler for exertingpressure on said connecting member.v

3. In an ironing machine, the combination of a frame, a roller mountedon said frame, a shoe coacting with said roller, means .for movablysupporting said shoe, comprising endwise shiftable arms connected to theends of said shoe, and a transverse connecting member connecting theopposite ends of said arms, vertical guides mounted on said frame andengaging said arms, a treadlemounted on said connecting member fordepressing said shoe, toggle mechanism for 'holding said shoe indepressed posit-ion, and a' spring mechanism is flexed.

iio

4. In an ironing machine, the combination of a frame, a roller mountedon said frame, a shoe coacting with said roller and com-l prisingvertical supporting arms extending downward from the ends of said shoe,and

mounted for endwise sliding movement on said frame, means for depressingsaid supporting arms, toggle members actuated by said depressing meansfor locking said arms in depressed position, and a foot operated leverconnected with said toggle for releasingy said arms from depressedposition.

5. In an ironing machine, thecombination of a frame, a roller mounted onsaid frame, a shoe coactingwith said roller andl comprisnsA ing verticalsupporting arms V extending downward from the ends of said shoe, andmounted for endwise sliding movement on said frame, a foot operatedlever connected with said arms for depressing thesame,

toggle members operative by said lever for retaining said arms indepressed fposition, and another lever for breaklng sald toggle membersto release sald arms.

6. In an ironingmachine, the combina-v for shifting 'said shoe inworking contact with said roller, said link acting to simulta-- neouslyshift said shoe through vapredeter-I mined angle relative to thecircumference ot said roller, and `foot pressed means for retaining saidshoe in working contact with said roller.

7. In an ironing machine, the combination of a frame, a roller, a shoecoacting with said roller, arms 'supporting the vends A of said shoe andhaving endwise sliding enga ement with said frame, intermediate the endsof said arms, a rod connecting the lower ends of said arms, a foot levermounted on said rod intermediate its ends, and forming one member ofatoggle mechanism, the other member being pivotally connected to saidframe, and an auxiliary footlever connect- Ved to said last mentionedtoggle member, for breaking said toggle. 1

8. In an ironing machine, the combination of a. frame, a roller mountedon said frame, a shoe adapted to be moved into and out of workingcontact with said roller, shoe supporting arms'having endwise slidingconnection with said frame, a foot operated lever connected with saidarms, for movin said shoe into working contact-with sai roller, a springacting to move said shoe out of working contact, and toggle mechanismoperatively connected with said 4foot lever, and adapted to hold saidarms against the tension of said spring, and comprising a foot lever forreleasingsaid toggle mechanism.

9. In an ironing machine, the combination of a frame, two coactingironing members, a movable unit supporting one of said members, andslidably connected with said frame, a tension member acting to shiftsaid unit in one direction, a lever for shifting said unit vin theopposite direction, toggle levers oper- "ativelyconnected with saidlever for holding said unit against the action of said tension member,means for limiting the relative movement of said toggle levers in onedirection to lock the same, and an auxiliary lever for releasing saidtoggle levers.

l0. In an ironingfmachine, the combination ofa frame, a roller mountedthereon, a movable shoe, supporting.- members c onnected with `saidshoeand extending down- 4wardly therefrom, guides and links connectingsaid supports with said frame permit- Ating upward and rearwarddisplacement of` the shoe, toggle mechanism interposed bep tween saidframe and the lower portions of n said supports, and foot levers foractuating' ,Y

said toggle levers and releasing the same.

11. In an ironing machine, a' frame, a roller mounted thereon, apressing member p comprising a coacting shoe, and a support thereforadapted for pivotal and vertical movement on said frame, whereby saidshoe may be displaced upwardly and rearwardly of lsaid roller, and meansfor actuating said support, comprising toggle mechanism interposed.between said frame and said support, and a footlever connected with saidtoggle mechanism.

, 12. In an lromng machine, two coacting members, one of which 1smovable, means for heating one of vsaid members adapted to beautomatically controlled by relative movement of said members, includinga mov-A able lever arm mounted on one of. said members and havingslidable engagement with a fixed part on the other of said members, andmeans permitting manual movement of said lever arm in one relativeposition of the movableV members.

13. In an ironing machine, two coacting members, one of which ismovable, means for heating one of said members having meansautomatically controlled by relative movement of said members, saidcontrolling p means including a movable lever having a forked armmounted on one of said members and normally actuated by slidingengagement with a fixed part on the other of said members, said armbeing manually movable independent of said automatic controlling meanswhen said movablemembers are withdrawn from each other, butautomatically re-engageable with said controlling means upc-n furtherco-operative action of said movable members.

- FREDERICK W. VODOZ.

